Fine Books and Manuscripts

9 volumes, 8vo (162 x 100 mm). Half-titles in volumes IV, V VI, and IX. Volume I with black leaf E5, volume III with engraved plate after Hogarth and marbled leaf between L4 and L5, volume VII in first state with errata on title verso. (Some light spotting to a few volumes, lower corner of blank leaf renewed Vol. I, a few wormholes to the lower margin Vol. V.) Contemporary tan calf gilt, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, tan and olive lettering-pieces gilt in two, the rest gilt (skillfully rebacked preserving original spines); brown morocco-tipped slipcase.FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE with Sterne's signature in ink, as usual, inscribed at the head of first chapters in vols. V, VII and IX. Sterne initially offered the manuscript for Tristram Shandy to Dodsley for 50 in 1759, but he rejected it. As a result, Sterne had a small run of probably no more than 300 copies printed in York; eventually, Dodsley agreed to act as London agent. Sterne earned instant recognition when his work was published on 1 January 1760, and he went to London where he was invited to court and had his portrait painted by Reynolds. The final volume appeared in January 1767, just over a year before his death. ESTC T14780 (Vols. I-II); ESTC T14705 (Vols. III-IV, Vol. III combination 1c); ESTC T14706 (Vols. V-VI); ESTC T14820 (Vols. VII-VII); ESTC T14824 (Vol. IX) Rothschild 1970.